Fenestration: More than Natural Light

Carlos Perez-Rubio, HERA Laboratory Planners
David Miller, HERA Laboratory Planners

The introduction of cheap, abundant electricity, air conditioning and artificial lighting in the first half of the 20th century meant that architects were now free from the restraints of having to provide natural lighting and ventilation. Architects designing laboratories used this new-found freedom to design windowless, stilted buildings that now exemplify a large chunk of facilities being renovated or torn down today. Perimeter walls often-times became shaft spaces, while researchers and staff would spend endless days in these buildings with minimal interaction with the outside.

Ironically around the same time as this energy innovation, advances in concrete and modern structural design freed architects from dealing with heavy, load-bearing walls. Architects of the time like Le Corbusier noted in his 5 points of Architecture that with the use of pilotis (reinforced concrete columns) that bear the load of the structure, the absence of supporting walls meant that a building is unrestrained in its internal and external usage. Walls and windows become free of their traditional restraints.

In the era of LEED, and sustainable design, Lab Planners have rediscovered windows, but very little thought has been given to the proper design relevant to what is occurring in the laboratory. We are now witness to the polar opposite of the windowless labs. Solid CMU block walls have given way to floor-to-ceiling windows, and vast expanses of glass, with little or no regard to what is occurring within the lab.

The properties of windows can be distilled into 3 separate fundamental functions: light, views, and, ventilation. Each of these must be understood with regard to the type of research it might affect. Planners must take into consideration a multitude of factors like human nature, safety, light sensitive research, and directional airflow. The intent of this lecture is to shed light into finding the appropriate amount and type of fenestration needed to create an inviting, safe, and secure environment for labs in the 21st century. During the course of this lecture we will define these 3 functions within their relevance to laboratories, and apply them to different lab types and why they are important beyond just natural light. We will also examine how each of these functions were applied successfully and some not so much.

Learning Objectives

  • Differentiate the 3 traditional distinct functions of fenestration as described during the lecture, and how they can be applied to modern day laboratories.
  • Identify features, functions, and requirements of laboratory research where the 3 functions should and should not be used.
  • Review, examine, and understand different technologies on the market today and how they have been implemented.

Biographies:

Carlos is a registered architect and lab planner with more than 15 years of experience in the planning, design, documentation, and construction of science and technology oriented facilities with special emphasis on science research and instructional labs, animal facilities, public health and healthcare related projects. Carlos' educational background is in environment & energy technology design and has been the lab planner on multiple LEED certified facilities including a net-zero Platinum lab.

With more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Miller's diverse background includes architectural programming, planning, project management, and related services. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters related to facility planning, and has spoken extensively throughout the United States. Dave is known for leading participatory public workshops. He brings a sense of fun and enthusiasm to the process, facilitating discussion among diverse groups towards consensus.

 

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